Chris Swerling is the School Library Media Coordinator K-12 for Newton Public Schools. She is the recipient of the 2017 MSLA Peggy Hallisey Lifetime Achievement Award.

In November 2017, I attended the 18th American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. As conferences always are, it was exhausting as well as exhilarating! From pre-conference workshops to general and individual sessions, the conference buzzed with talk about the new AASL National School Library Standards. Attending a pre-conference afternoon workshop, I anxiously (but enthusiastically!) delved into them. As I unpacked the standards with school librarians from all over the country, I repeatedly heard “Here’s how I teach that” and “This is what it looks like in action in my school library.” I emerged from the workshop – and the conference – with respect for the common beliefs upon which the standards are grounded and can be applied equally to all schools, all levels. The shared foundations are concrete and tangible in defining how students, school librarians, and the school library program should think, create, share, and grow. I tip my hat in admiration to the AASL Standards and Guidelines Editorial Board – and for everyone who had a voice in shaping our profession’s new standards. They build on the past and point us to the new horizon – and beyond. ​

The first school library standards of 1918 set an expectation for a school library staffed by a qualified school librarian knowledgeable in collection development and able to instruct students in using books and libraries. Subsequent standards (and there have been several!) made the shift to a media center with books and audiovisual materials – along with the teaching of library skills integrated with classroom instruction. By the 2009 standards, the school librarian as an instructional partner and technology leader within a school became the norm and the school library a space for students to become critical, creative, and ethical users of information in all formats.

Today’s Standards Reflect the Standards of the Past 100 YearsFast forward to 2018. Instruction is central to the school librarian’s role. We’ve evolved from the media center of the 1970’s to the Learning Commons of today where students take charge of their own learning as they inquire and explore a wide variety of formats to meet their information needs. Thanks to a century of standards, our role as school librarian has shifted from support to instructional partner. Our school libraries are our classrooms. As instructors and curriculum designers, we daily strive to teach and guide students to articulate questions, curate information, and engage with others to create and communicate knowledge. The AASL National School Library Standards are packaged in a way that defines what is essential for students to learn and be able to do because of the instruction provided by the school librarian. They are the answer to “What does a school librarian do all day?”

Recommended First StepsGet to know the AASL National School Library Standards. Explore the AASL Standards Web Portal (http://standards.aasl.org) for school librarians, administrators, parents/guardians, and educators. Begin with the school librarian section. The videos and documents for reading and using the standards are a good place to start – and free! It will take several visits to fully absorb all that is there. Avoid becoming overwhelmed and register for an AASL standards webinar. Schedule and registration is free at eCollab (http://www.ala.org/aasl/ecollab/upcoming).

When you feel confident that you have a grasp of the standards explore the other sections. If your budget allows, purchase the book. MSLA is offering a conference discount of $99 to purchase the book for conference attendees (truly a bargain!). The standards app, available from iTunes, provides easy and useful access to the standards at a reasonable price. Consider joining a community of like-minded school librarians at the twitter feed #aaslstandards to stay up to date with the latest implementation ideas and workshops.

Prepare A Plan to Share the Standards with Your Stakeholders:

There is an implementation plan in the Web portal. (http://standards.aasl.org/implementation/). Use it to guide how you will communicate the AASLNational School Library Standards to your school community in a way that is easy to understand. Your message should emphasize your teaching role – and what you communicate about the standards should support that. Select a shared foundation such as “Inquire.” Develop a chart that shows what that foundation already looks like in your school library. Creating a chart or graphic to share with your administrators will enable them to easily see connections between the school library standards and the school curriculum. Use videos from the Web portal or collect and share student comments and anecdotes that tell your own school library story.

Spread the Word to Your Community:

Let parents and teachers know about the new National School Library Standards. Download and post on your Web site the Guide for Parents and Guardians (http://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AASL_Parents_OnePager_2017.jpg.) It is an excellent summary as to how the school librarian and school library standards contribute to a child’s growth as a student as he or she inquires and shares knowledge. Likewise, distribute copies of the Guide for Educators and Classroom Teachers (http://standards.aasl.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/AASL_Educator_OnePager_2017.pdf) to make teachers aware of the new standards. Follow up with individual meetings with teachers, PLC’s, grade alike or department meetings and distribute the six Shared Foundation Infographics (http://standards.aasl.org/project/foundations/). This is an excellent starting place to initiate a dialog with teaching colleagues as to how our library standards intersect with classroom curriculum, leading to collaboration and implementation.

Begin exploring the new standards and share what you learn by contributing to #asslstandards. The standards are very comprehensive so don’t try and go it alone. Brainstorm ideas for implementing the standards with school library colleagues or start a study group (and earn PDP’s!) Reach out. Organize an unconference, start a twitter chat, give a workshop at a conference. This is a new beginning for our professional community through which we can create and enhance our professional contributions to enable our students to learn and grow. I encourage all MSLA members to collaboratively embrace this opportunity.

The challenge of the 1918 school library standards was to find information. Today our challenge is to teach students to inquire, include, collaborate, curate, explore, and engage. The new AASL National Standards point the way.

The Massachusetts School Library Association works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA